Lawrence Wong makes rebuttal arguments on growth
policies
SINGAPORE: Minister of State for Defence and
Education Lawrence Wong has rebutted arguments by some MPs in
Parliament that the problems being faced by Singapore are the
result of the government's focus on growth.
He said the government has never pursued GDP as an
end in itself. Rather, growth has been pursued with a firm
commitment to fairness, and as the foundation for broader benefits
for all.
"The criticisms against growth are not uniquely
heard in this House. They are also heard in other developed
countries, as growth becomes tainted by the excesses of capitalism.
But they have arisen more fundamentally due to the pressures in the
workplace brought about by globalisation and the IT revolution,"
said Mr Wong, who is also MP for West Coast GRC.
"In the past, the competition came from low-wage, low-skilled
workers. Now, there is also competition from low-wage, high-skilled
workers. Reading X-rays or filing tax returns can be done by
lower-paid radiologists or accountants - they do the work in India,
and send the results back the next day via fibre-optic cable," he
added.
Mr Wong explained that very few other countries have emerged from
the last five years of the global turmoil with such positive
results.
But Singapore made it happen, because of policies to promote
sustainable and inclusive growth - growth that benefits every
citizen, strengthens social solidarity, and increases living
standards not just for today, but for future generations as
well.
Turning to education, Mr Wong said: "Next year, the new Singapore
University of Technology and Design (SUTD) will take in its first
batch of students. The Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT) will
also have new programmes with overseas universities.
"So we can expect an increase of around 1,000 university places for
Singaporeans in 2012. Thereafter, there will be an increase of
another 1,000 more university places over the next few
years."
Concluding his speech, he said that while the government will do
its part to facilitate and lead in terms of the broad directions,
it will also need the support of Singaporeans.
Mr Wong said: "To understand and tackle our challenges fully and
vigorously, we need to draw on the expertise and resources of all
our people. This means that the government should pull back from
being all things to all citizens, and give Singaporeans the
opportunity and space to organise themselves, and develop their own
solutions."
- CNA /ls
